World News - U.S. to Resume Air Traveler Random Screenings, Dropped in 2003

Random searches of U.S. airline passengers, abandoned in 2003 to reduce hassles, will return Dec. 22 to make airport security less predictable, a federal agency said. After travelers pass through security checkpoints, they may be subject to a pat down, a handheld metal detector, a search of carry-on bags or a shoe screening, said Kip Hawley, head of the Transportation Security Administration. ``Terrorists do watch our security process to try to understand it,'' Hawley said today at a news conference in Washington. ``They will not be able to beat the system because it is unpredictable.'' The U.S. government after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks began random passenger screenings beyond checkpoints as an additional security layer. The government abandoned the approach in 2003, after deciding that the checkpoints were sufficiently staffed with trained workers. ... http://quote.bloomberg.com

Storms dumped snow across Washington state, causing at least one death and dozens of traffic accidents, and some schools were closed Friday as a lighter downfall continued. Major highways through the Cascade Range were open Friday morning but many had restrictions, including mandatory use of tire chains. Heavy snow fell east of the Cascades on Thursday, while mostly light, wet snow was reported across much of western Washington. Spokane got 2.6 inches Thursday. Dozens of crashes were reported Thursday by state troopers and Yakima County sheriff's officers. A 28-year-old man was killed when his pickup went out of control and was broadsided by another pickup on the Yakima Valley Highway near Grandview. ...http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1366321

A senior UN official warned today that 90% of the tents given to earthquake survivors in Pakistan are not equipped for the harsh Himalayan winter. Darren Boisvert, the official in charge of distributing shelter in the quake-hit areas, said the tents have not been "winterised". Nearly 420,000 tents have already been given out to survivors, but only 5,000 are fully "winterised", he said. Temperatures in the mountainous regions of Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province have already dropped below freezing and snow has been falling in many areas. Heavier snowstorms are expected over the next few weeks. Mr Boisvert said that after the earthquake struck on October 8, hundreds of aid organisations brought in thousands of tents to provide shelter, but most of those tents were not adequate for winter use. "Winterised tents are expensive, they are hard to procure, and must be shipped from overseas," he said....http://www.guardian.co.uk/naturaldisasters/story/0,7369,1656284,00.html

An Ohio man avoids jail time for being a stay-at-home father; Tennessee motorists encounter a naked, intoxicated gunman; and a teen allegedly tries to get revenge on a suspected "Peeping Tom." Stay at home — get naked if you want to — and enjoy the latest edition of "The Crime Blotter." Stay-At-Home DadMASON, Ohio — A judge has dismissed a contempt-of-court charge against an Ohio man who said he had to miss jury duty to be a stay-at-home dad.Jeff Bloebaum could have faced six months in jail after being held in contempt of court for failing to report for jury duty in October. But on Thursday, an Ohio judge dismissed the charge and praised Bloebaum for taking his civic duties seriously....http://abcnews.go.com/US/LegalCenter/story?id=89932&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

North Korea today sent mixed messages to the United States, accusing it of being the "world's worst human rights abuser" but offering to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme in return for better relations with Washington.The statements from the secretive regime came through its official newspaper and the Chinese ambassador to its southern rival.Ning Fukui, China's ambassador to Seoul, told an opposition MP that North Korea had the intention of dismantling its nuclear programme. US intelligence analysts believe it has enough plutonium for six to eight warheads."Ambassador Ning [...] expressed the opinion that North Korea would want three key things - improving ties with the United States, Japan and South Korea - to be resolved in order to dismantle its nuclear programme," the opposition Grand National party said in a statement....http://www.guardian.co.uk/korea/article/0,2763,1656455,00.html

Ten US marines were killed and 11 wounded by a roadside bomb outside the central Iraqi town of Falluja on Thursday, the US military has said. The marines from the 2nd Marine Division were conducting a foot patrol when a bomb exploded, a statement issued on Friday said. Their combat unit was taking part in a counter-insurgency operation in Anbar Province, west of the capital Baghdad. The attack was one of the deadliest against US forces since August. "The patrol was attacked with an IED [improvised explosive device] fashioned from several large artillery shells," the statement said. Seven of the wounded soldiers have returned to duty. "Marines continue to conduct counter-insurgency operations throughout Falluja and surrounding areas to provide a secure environment for the national elections," the statement added....http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4493118.stm